A history of the shipping company founded by the Ritson family of Sunderland in the 19th century. John Ritson entered ship owning in the 1820s, and in 1881 the family firm formed the Nautilus Steam Shipping Co Ltd. The company adopted the Branch nomenclature with which they were to be associated for the next fifty years. Nautilus's initial trade was primarily taking coal to Mediterranean ports and returning with grain, however by the end of the century Branch ships were trading worldwide and the company moved into the liner trade, taking over the Gulf Line service to South America. Branch ships suffered heavy losses during the First World War, and post-war renewal placed a heavy financial burden on Nautilus and the company struggled to make a profit. Bankruptcy finally ended Nautilus's fifty-year history in 1931. The book includes a fleet list illustrated with black-and-white photographs, and appendices including information on bought and sold prices, crew lists, names of Nautilus crew members killed in the First World War, and a list of major shareholders.